Last week, I took my two oldest daughter’s to see The Lorax in the theatre. They both LOVED the movie and I enjoyed it as well. If you haven’t seen it – one of the main parts of the movie is about the Truffala Trees – and I must say – I wish I could grow them here! They’re so beautiful!! When I came up with this sashing it reminded me of the gorgeous Truffula Trees and I realized it was the prefect name! I only wish naming blocks was always this easy!

Cutting Instructions

Tree Top

1 – 3.5” x 3.5” square

4 – 1.5” x 1.5” sky squares

Trunk

1 – 1.5” x 9.5” brown strip

2 – 1.5” x 9.5” grass strips

Sewing Instructions

Make the Tree Top following the same method that I showed you in the Trees in Blossom tutorial. For the trunk, sew a grass strip to either side of the trunk strip. Iron towards the trunk. Sew the Tree Top piece to the Trunk piece to create a fabulous Truffala Tree Sashing!

I am an avid reader. I love to read books with a great story so I can just escape’ into another world. I’ll admit – my husband doesn’t really like when I get into a book because I’m really good at not hearing everything else going on around me. I’ve found that this has been a helpful technique when I’m driving somewhere with a carload of screaming children. I was immediately sucked into this book since it was very well written with a great story line.

I identify with Mariposa even though we don’t hear from her personally in the story. I’ve always been a bit of a ‘black sheep’ being independent and opinionated.

This is the first of Marie’s books that I have read but I am about to go on the hunt for the rest of them. I really enjoyed this and I would love to see what happened before this book. Although I did easily follow the story without have read the previous books in the series.

Why would I recommend that you read this novel?

Family, Love, Children, Faith, Quilting

Phillipa, one of the characters, signs up to make a baby quilt as her first quilt. To see and read about one of my favorite baby quilts that I’ve made be sure to head over to the Quilting Gallery Site. I sort of took a beginner quilting class when I first started. It was at my future mother-in-law’s house on Tuesday nights. I would work on my quilt and she cooked us dinner! It was the best of both worlds – especially when you’re a college student – hard to beat a good meal. The boys would do the dishes while Diane looked over my work and taught me new steps. It definitely inspired me to continue to quilt and once I got my very first sewing machine – there was no stopping me!

Book Synopsis:

Christmas is fast approaching, and New Bern, Connecticut, is about to receive the gift of a new pastor, hired sight unseen to fill in while Reverend Tucker is on sabbatical. Meanwhile, Margot Matthews' friend, Abigail, is trying to match-make even though Margot has all but given up on romance. She loves her job at the Cobbled Court Quilt Shop and the life and friendships she's made in New Bern; she just never thought she'd still be single on her fortieth birthday. It's a shock to the entire town when Phillip A. Clarkson turns out to be Philippa. Truth be told, not everyone is happy about having a female pastor. Yet despite a rocky start, Philippa begins to settle in—finding ways to ease the townspeople's burdens, joining the quilting circle, and forging a fast friendship with Margot. When tragedy threatens to tear Margot's family apart, that bond—and the help of her quilting sisterhood—will prove a saving grace. And as she untangles her feelings for another new arrival in town, Margot begins to realize that it is the surprising detours woven into life's fabric that provide its richest hues and deepest meaning…

GIVEAWAY

Have you heard enough that you are going to run out and buy your very own copy!? You don’t have to YET! Enter to win your very own copy simply by leaving me a comment telling me what your favorite book is. Be sure to leave your email address – if I can’t get a hold of you – no prize. I will be drawing the winner on May 2nd, so be sure to get your comment in now!

Did my review make you really excited about this book? Do you want more chances to WIN it? Head over to the other ‘Blog Hopper’s’ and be sure to enter their giveaway too!

I know I’ve been slacking on this blog lately so I’m going to do my best to at least post once a week. *try*

On the morning of my birthday party Cory of Friends in Photography came to the orchard and did a photo shoot of my family. I’m only showing you three of the amazing pictures – to see more check out Cory’s Blog – The Lapacek Family.

I love this photo Cory got of me with Cedi & Capri. I wish Pip would have been cooperating at this point but she wanted nothing to do with us.

I think this one is so sweet though!

What else went on last week? WELL – we’re going to be having a garage sale at the orchard during apple blossom days (the first two weekends in May) so I decided it was time to go through the girls clothes. The first step was to empty the closets and drawers so I could properly go through it all. After I did that I literally had a pile of clothes 4 feet high by 8 feet by 8 feet. It was nuts! I guess that’s what’s happens with 3 girls…

3 days later…

Pip’s clothes.

I have decided that even though Cedi’s a bit taller than Capri, it’s time they share clothes. so… Cedi & Capri’s – short sleeve and sleeveless shirts, long sleeve shirts, and of course – dresses and skirts.

And yes – they are coordinated by rainbow – of course!

I didn’t take any pictures but in one day I did the same to my closet – and yes – also coordinated by rainbow.

Capri dressed herself the other day – I love her style!

and Pip is teaching herself how to play the harmonica. Pip is on the MOVE! She’s transformed from must being a walker to being a RUNNER! Her two older sisters adore her and are good at watching what she’s getting into. Another new thing we’ve been doing is Eskimo kisses. At first she looked at me like, “What is this lady doing?” but now she looks away, smiles, and then brings her nose back to mine. She’s just so sweet! I cannot believe that she's going to be ONE on Saturday! This year has just flown by!

Hi everyone! How are things going? Things are good around here and I’m excited to show you the little bit of progress I’ve made on my BOM and QAL blocks. For some reason I didn’t have much sewing time last week but I’m having a hard time remembering what I was doing…

Anyway…

Home Sweet Home Quilt Along

There are TWENTY Block tutorials up now! Which means – you can finish your quilt (if you wanted 20 blocks – if you were okay with less you should be fine already :) I have all of mine made and now I’m working like made to make up my sashings and cornerstones. I didn’t realize there were 49 sashings that to be made – and I’m going to make them all different…I have a bit of work to do. But if you’ve been watching the block you’ve probably noticed that the sashing tutorials are being posted faster than before. I think I have at least five photo’d and ready for their write up so hopefully this part goes quickly. I’m super happy with how this quilt is turning out – I think it’s going to be such a fun one!

I have two of every block made for the Blogger’s BOM. If I remember correctly a new block tutorial will be up on the 25th – just two days away! I’m still moving a bit slower on the New York Beauty Quilt Along but did manage to make two more since the last post. I think these are really going to add some jazz to this piece – and I can’t believe I’m actually making them – I never saw myself doing this ever!

I still only have the sole Mariner’s Compass Block done from the aid of Chris Lynn Kirsch’s class and her new self-published book, Compass Capers. I will definitely be making at least one more of these for this piece.

This week a Blog Hop Book Tour is starting for Marie Bostwick’s new book ‘ties that bind’. I’m excited to be one of the reviewers that Michelle of the Quilting Gallery picked. When you come back to see what I think on Saturday, April 28th (aka the day Pip turns ONE! Can you believe it!? My beautiful little babe is going to be ONE!) – you’ll be able to enter for a chance to win you’re very own copy!

Not only can you enter for a chance to win a copy on my blog on Saturday but there are 10 other bloggers that are reviewing the book for you all and giving you a chance to win your own copy as well. Below I’ve listed the schedule of the review and giveaway. Have fun and hop along with us!

Saturday, April 28

Have you discovered the Craftsy Block of the Month by Amy Gibson yet? If you are a quilter or ever dreamed of quilting this is the prefect block of the month for everyone! Each month Amy goes over a different quilt technique with a video. It’s really easy to understand and follow and I’ve already learned quite a few new techniques.

Something I’ve tried before was English Paper Piecing. I’ll admit I was not excited to do the English Paper Piecing blocks – it just wasn’t my thing. BUT I’m not a quitter and I had to do it. I watched Amy’s tutorial and she didn’t differently than I had before so I did it her way. What a difference it made! I am now in love with making these fabulous Hexagons. So far, I’ve made up one sashing tutorial using the hexagons with plan for a second using slightly bigger ones.

5 – 2” x .5” ‘trunks’ that will be fused to your main fabric (I put the fusible on my fabric before I cut it – seems to be easier).

5 – 3/4-inch hexagon templates

You can see above that I have my five fabrics and my five templates. I used Amy’s Instructions to created five hexagons and I sewed them all together in a row. Once they were starched and ironed I cut my basting stitches out And pulled the templates out as well. (You can save these for future projects if you’d like…who knows…there may be more sashing’s with them) Next, I used a washable glue stick to put my hexagons where I want them on my fabric. Before I sewed them down, I fused my tree trunks so they overlapped under them. As you can see I cut mine at a wonky 1/2-inch x 2-inches. I thought it added a bit more dimension to the trees. I blanket stitched the outer edge of the hexagon strip and the right side of the trunks. I used a straight line stitch to stitch the left side of the trunks. I’m really happy with this fun and whimsical sashing!Here it is finished with Block 4 – My Tilted House above it and Block 8 - A Wonky Modern House below it. (Wonky Modern House was actually inspired by the February blocks of the Craftsy Block of the Month)

It’s been almost four months since the ‘tree and house’ quilt wouldn’t leave my dreams and turned itself into the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along. With today’s block tutorial we’ll have enough blocks to make a 20 block quilt – or a 16 block quilt or a 12 block quilt or a pillowcase – whatever you desire! I’ve learned a few things along the way of my first quilt along but mostly I’ve been inspired by the collaboration of all the different designers. I just love that we have a wonderful mix of people from not only all over the US but in actuality – all over the world. I have a all of my blocks (well – 19 of them so far… I should have 20 up by the end of the day if I utilize my time during Pip’s nap well) on my design wall and every time I walk by them I smile.

Okay – enough gushing, let’s get on with it!

I have another fabulous designer today – Love Affair with My Brother. I’ll admit – when I first saw the name of her blog I HAD to find out what was going on with her – Love Affair with my BROTHER!? Who would blog about that!? I’ll admit – I tend to be a bit slow on the uptake sometimes. If you’re like me – be sure to check out her ‘About Me’ page to see what’s really going on.

Keep an eye on Sunni and her Brother by following her online endeavors:

I’m sure once I get this final block made my butt will really get into gear making up sashings for the quilt. I’m really not good at leaving projects unfinished – they’re always nagging at my dreams which doesn’t leave room for new ideas to emerge. So be sure to keep watching for sashing ideas! I can’t wait to see what everyone’s quilts end up like!

Thankfully Diane has been working diligently to put together some sashing tutorials for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along. I drew out my quilt layout with 20 main blocks (16 scheduled and 4 bonus) and I need to come up with 29 different sashing designs! Ahhh! I came up with about 6 more yesterday afternoon but I still have to write them all up. This is going to be an interesting challenge!

Shoo Fly Sashing by Diane Lapacek

WARNING: These are those teeny tiny pieces that drive Kim crazy.

I had some unused half square triangles stuffed in a drawer, so I just squared them up to size. This is a great place to use them.

Cutting instructions:

Dark fabrics:

· Cut 8 2” squares

· Cut 4 1½“ squares

Light Fabrics:

· Cut 8 2” squares

· Cut 16 1½” squares

First, we’ll use the 2” squares to make half square triangles.

Draw a diagonal line on the back side of each light square.

Place two squares right sides together and stitch ¼” on each side of the drawn line.

Cut on the drawn line.

Press seams toward the darker fabric.

Square up to 1½” square.

o

Sew a 1½” light square to each end of a 1½” dark square. Make 4 units.

*some posts on this blog contain affiliate links to vendors such as Amazon - at no additional cost to you. The small amount of affiliate income I earn allows me to bring you free patterns and DIY tutorials, as well as pay for domain fees. For more information, please visit my Disclosure Statement and Advertising Policies page.